Best of

the Twin Cities

Best Brunch

Tongue in Cheek

Tongue in Cheek offers not just one of the best brunch deals around, but also some of the most inventive food in a part of St. Paul’s east side that is rapidly turning into a culinary destination. For $25, you’ll get two teasers, one entrée, one eye-opener, and coffee. For the uninitiated, a teaser is a one- or two-bite mouth pleaser. Think amuse bouche on steroids, like the Winter Blues, a blueberry sphere with blue cheese and toffee nuts. That sphere reference should clue you in to the fact that there is a bit of molecular gastronomy going on here, but in the most unpretentious and fun way possible. Entrees range from the adventurous, like the Octopus Prime, caramelized octopus with grits and aioli, to fried chicken and waffles. The eye-opener is a cocktail — because what’s brunch without a cocktail? Sure, there’s a bloody Mary, but there’s also an espresso martini, because hey, it’s the weekend. Oh, except they also do weekday brunch. Yep, you can treat yourself this well Wednesday through Sunday.